Anxiety Symptoms and Treatment Options in Santa Cruz and Across California

What Is Anxiety?

Everyone feels worried from time to time, but clinical anxiety is more than everyday stress. Anxiety disorders can interfere with work, school, sleep, and relationships, and often create a cycle of worry that’s hard to break.

At Coastal Breeze Mental Health, our psychiatric nurse practitioners provide personalized, evidence-based care for anxiety in Santa Cruz, Aptos, Soquel, Scotts Valley, Capitola, and across California through telehealth.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can show up in many ways. Common symptoms include:

• Restlessness or feeling “on edge”

• Excessive or uncontrollable worry

• Racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating

• Muscle tension or headaches

• Irritability or agitation

• Difficulty sleeping (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep)

• Rapid heartbeat, sweating, or shortness of breath

• Avoiding people, places, or situations due to fear

If these symptoms are persistent and interfere with your ability to enjoy life, professional treatment can make a significant difference.

Medication Options for Anxiety

Medication can help reduce anxiety symptoms and improve daily functioning. Common options include:

• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac)

• SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors): venlafaxine (Effexor), duloxetine (Cymbalta)

• Buspirone (Buspar): A non-benzodiazepine option for generalized anxiety

• Beta-blockers: Sometimes used for physical symptoms of performance anxiety such as rapid heartbeat

• Benzodiazepines: May be prescribed short-term for acute anxiety, but not recommended as a long-term solution

The best medication depends on your individual symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals.

Other Treatment Options

While medication can be highly effective, it is often most successful when combined with other approaches:

• Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based methods help patients reframe anxious thoughts and behaviors.

• Lifestyle adjustments: Exercise, balanced nutrition, consistent sleep, and reducing caffeine and alcohol.

• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and grounding strategies.

• Support networks: Talking with family, friends, or peer support groups.

When to Seek Help

Anxiety is common, but when it begins to control your daily life or limit your ability to function, it’s time to seek support. With professional help, symptoms can improve and quality of life can be restored.

At Coastal Breeze Mental Health, we offer:

• Medication management for anxiety disorders

• In-person appointments in Capitola

• Telehealth services across California

• Compassionate, patient-centered care

Take the Next Step

If anxiety is keeping you from living fully, you don’t have to manage it alone. Contact Coastal Breeze Mental Health today to schedule an appointment and explore personalized treatment options.

📍 Serving Santa Cruz, Capitola, and all of California via telehealth.